Elements and Principles of Graphic Design

Elements

Lines

There are many types of lines. Straight, curvy, thick, thin, dotted, obscure.

Basically, anything can be a line and a line can be anything.

As to Graphic Design, It's what creates the image/logo/feeling/whatever

Shape

Shape in Graphic Design is blocks of either positive or negative space. Whatever you do or don't fill in on your screen.

Mass

Each piece in a design has its own mass/space. 

A certain element of a design may take more mass than others.

Texture 

Texture can also be a number of things. It just needs to give the viewer some sort of feeling to whatever is drawn. So drawing hair, the texture on that needs to look like it feels like hair.

Rough, smooth, soft, hard, grainy, ect.

Color

Color can give feeling to a piece, even if it is in black and white.

Cool colors, warm colors, complementary, neutral, analogous, tertiary, primary, secondary, dark, light.

All of these can convey emotions if put in a certain area.

Principles

Balance
Balance is similar to the symmetry of the piece. Does only one side have anything? Or is it split down the middle?
Proximity
Proximity is how everything relates to each other in space.
Alignment 
How you chose to place design in your piece 
Repetition
Having repeating patterns in your design is a good thing. Creates a unity within it. Consistency.
Contrast
Contrast helps make certain parts stand out. There needs to be a variety in the colors.
White Space
Or negative space is what makes the desired objects pop. But too much of it makes the project look incomplete.